Abbaye de Fontenay

The Abbey of Fontenay was founded by Saint Bernard in 1118. It is one of the oldest Cistercian abbeys in Europe. The Romanesque architecture offers a remarkable unity to all buildings remained intact since the Middle Ages. The Abbey was transformed into a paper mill after the French Revolution by the family Montgolfier and was bought back in 1906 by Edouard Aynard, the ancestor of the present owners who continue on safeguarding this masterpiece of Romanesque art. The old Abbey of Fontenay (12th century) was one of the first monuments to be inscribed on the Unesco world heritage list. This classification has distinguished the exceptional value of Fontenay and its environment.

The opening conditions of the Fontenay Abbey take into account the current health measures. Our current opening times are subject to change. Visits do not require prior reservation. Until 31 March 2022, Fontenay Abbey can be visited freely from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm. Private guided tours are available upon reservation. From April 1, 2022 to November 11, 2022, the Abbey is open from 10am to 6pm and regular guided tours are available without reservation at the following times: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1:45pm, 2:45pm, 4pm and 5pm (except on April 1). To be confirmed on our website www.abbayedefontenay.com

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